The Ninth of Av

sick people are exempt from fasting on Tisha Be-Av, while pregnant and nursing women – despite the aches and pains that they experience – are not considered sick.

Any form of pleasurable washing is prohibited on Tisha Be-Av, whether the water is hot or cold. One may not even wash a small part of his body.

Sick people are exempt from fasting on Tisha Be-Av. A woman within thirty days of childbirth is considered sick.Those who are exempt from fasting should take care to eat only simple foods that they need for their health.

There are few halakhic differences between Tisha Be-Av and the minor fasts. In general, the fast of Tisha Be-Av is equivalent to the fast of Yom Kippur.

), The prophets instituted four fasts after the destruction of the First Temple, the gravest of which is Tisha Be-Av, the ninth day of the Hebrew month of Av, the day that the Temple was destroyed

The fast begins immediately at the end of Shabbat, making it is impossible to recite havdala over a cup of wine. Therefore, we postpone reciting havdala over a beverage until after Tisha Be-Av ends.

The rule is that we do not mourn on Shabbat. Therefore, even if the ninth of Av falls out on Shabbat, we postpone the fast to Sunday. Since there is no mourning on Shabbat, we behave as usual.

The Talmud relates how R. Yehuda b. R. Ila’i would act at his se’uda ha-mafseket: He would be given dry bread with salt, and in an undignified place – between the furnace and the oven – eat it with a flask of water, as though in the presence of a newly-deceased relative.

During the se’uda ha-mafseket, one may eat as much raw food that he wants. If one cooks them, however, they are considered cooked dishes, despite the fact that they are edible even when uncooked.

What is the se’uda ha-mafseket? It is the last meal before the fast, eaten after midday.